Dusty. That’s the overwhelming adjective that you’re left with after playing Resistance 3; the constant, swirling stuff showing off Insomniac’s new particle effects with confidence. The level I played was windy, too, the telegraph lines dancing in the gale and creating a real sense of physicality that’s missing from most of the environments of first person shooters these days.
Of course, the Resistance series has never held back with regards to pushing the boundaries – the first game’s assault on Manchester proving to be both impressive in size and scale and, ultimately, something even the Church of England got all wrapped up in. But this is an America desperately on the back foot, our demo limited to an Oklahoman suburb desperately ravaged by the Chimera – dust is the least of their problems.
Thankfully, it’s a species evolving as the game engine they appear in does, their new abilities (such as hugely improved mobility – you should see them scale walls) making them all the more dangerous to the player, who now assumes the role of Joseph Capelli as he makes his way across the country to New York. The Chimera are still numerous, as you’d expect, and they massively exceed the remaining pockets of humanity.
Thankfully, weaponry hasn’t dwindled during the occupation and old favourites like the Bullseye and Auger return, complete with secondary fire and the welcome weapon wheel which prompts quick access to Capelli’s growing arsenal. The other survivors are also handy enough with a firearm to provide at least a few dramatic encounters betwixt the monsters before our time with the game is up.
It’s a gorgeous looking game, too – distinctly Resistance in character and design but slicker, filled with stacks of special effects and capable of shifting loads on-screen without breaking a sweat. It’s clear Insomniac have a certain grasp of the PS3’s hardware, and Resistance 3 is no break from that tradition, at least in the section we managed to play.
The killer moment, though, is the sudden appearance of a boss character, a huge, hulking beast that takes some considerable effort to bring down. He’s equipped with rockets but it’s his devastating right hook that shows off the lovely motion blur as the character gets whacked across the courtyard. It’s a fitting end to a hectic quarter of an hour of solid, intensive gaming. If the rest of game has a few moments like this, it’s a winner.
You can see the section we played through here.
icuyesido
Can’t wait for this to come out, I’m glad they’ve brought back the co-op campaign, really annoying that the second didn’t have it in. :-/
teflon
Then again, I did rather enjoy the 8 player co-op in R2, and wish R3 had it in addition…
DrNate86
I loved the co-op in R2! I thought each role was really well constructed, it was vital to have a mixed team. Real shame it isn’t included.
Rocket_345
Does the article have any R2 spoilers as i am going through it now for the first time.
rht992
nothing story wise
Xvault
Great games. Been waiting a long time for this sequel!
Delriach
Even though I skipped out on Resistance 2, I’m really looking forward to this game. It seems to recapture the elements the sequel lacked.
RudeAwakening
have to say the online in resistance 2 was exceptional, by far the best experience I have ever had with multiplayer. I hope resistance 3 has a similar feel and play online as resistance 2.
manky_
Good to hear it plays as good as it looks…. just 7 months to wait
jaberwocky_eidas
Resistance 3 looks very very snazzy. The clouds of dust look immense! I wonder how a deafeted and technologically inferior humanity could do anything other than survive at the fringes of the earth. I like how resistance is of the old school circle strafe when it comes to bosses….